Information for Year 8
Parents
Supporting your
child’s learning…
…from home
Dates for your diary:
Year 8 Parents’ Consultation Evening Tuesday 6 November 2012 - 4.30 – 7.00pm
Year 8 Options Evening Tuesday 27 November 2012 – 6.00 – 8.00 pm
Year 8 Review Day Thursday 6 December 2012 – 1.30 – 7.00 pm
English
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year:
Prose novel: usually ‘Stone Cold’.
Writing unit: ‘Crime’.
Drama: Usually ‘Our Day Out’.
Non-fiction and Media: ‘Fame’.
Writing unit: ‘Disasters’.
‘Myths and Monsters’.
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
All homework is set at the start of each unit: it is available on the VLE and is designed to
encourage independent work.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
All by APP: students are usually assessed every 2 weeks. Not by exam, but by on-going
formative assessment. Foci are reading, writing and speaking and listening: all are equally
weighted.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Not applicable: please see above. Students are assessed on working-at grades each
term, with a final assessment on balance of performance at the end of the year.
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
The most important thing parents can do is encourage a culture of reading: this is not just
for students to recognise words, but to get to grips with the overall meanings of a wide
variety of texts. Advice is to read with your children and ask them to sum up the meaning
of each page or section as you go.
Useful websites and resources
BBC Bitesize.
Any available reading material, preferably a mixture of fiction and non-fiction.
Maths
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Students work on several aspects of Number, Algebra, Shape and Measures and Data
Handling.
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
Consolidation and practice using worksheets and online resources.
Extended investigational projects
Thinking skills activities
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
5 formal written assessments
APP (Assessing Pupils Progress) tasks
Teacher assessment
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Formal assessments between –
24 September to 5 October 2012
26 November 2012 to 7 December 2012
14 January to 1 February 2013
11 March to 22 March 2013
6 May to 18 May 2012
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Encourage use of maths in everyday life, such as calculations of money and time,
measuring activities etc.
Problem solving skills can be developed with logic problems (newspapers) or board and
card games, making learning fun!
Useful websites and resources
Mymaths.co.uk
Sumdog.com
Transom.org
Supermathsworld.com
Mrbartonmaths.com
VLE
Science
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
In year 8 pupils will study 10 topics:
Food, Diet & Digestion
Atoms, Elements, Compounds & Reactions
Heating, Cooling & Energy Conservation
Exercise, Drugs & Alcohol
Reactivity Series, Metals & Non-Metals
Inheritance & Selection
Pressure, Moments & Friction
Microbes
Pollution & Acid Rain
Light & Sound
Each child will follow the topics in a different order and will study the basics of Biology
Chemistry and Physics
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
Home learning tasks will include:
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Posters
Worksheets
Individual Research
APP (Assessing Pupils Progress) Activities (methods graphs conclusions)
Analysis of data
Literacy activities
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
This year each child will sit two tests after a block of 3 or 4 units. These tests will be
levelled according to the National Curriculum.
During the year, 3 or 4 large APP assessments will take place. These are an experimental
project that each student has to complete from start to finish. Each assessment will be
given a level for each APP strand, explaining why they have got that level and what they
need to do to reach the next level.
Throughout the year, books will also be marked according to the APP criteria.
Towards the end of the school year students will sit a final test that will give them an
overall mark for Key Stage 3. This mark will then determine which students will commence
the triple Science GCSE course in Year 9.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Assessment will take place once the class has finished the pre – requisite topics, but
should take place before the end of January and the end of March. The end of year test
will take place at the end of June.
Each child will be given lots of notice about when they will have their tests and APP
assessments.
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Ask your children what they are currently doing in Science and get them to talk to you
about what they are learning.
Try not to let your child use the internet to do their homework all the time.
If your child says they are struggling with their homework get them to discuss what they
already know with you and use this as a starting point.
If your child has been given project work to do over a period of time, help them to plan the
time they spend on it so that it isn’t done and rushed at the last minute.
Useful websites and resources
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
iamlearning
The school VLE has the pupil speak APP assessment grid on it.
A general science encyclopaedia and dictionary may help.
Geography
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Crazy Coasts – How do physical coastal processes alter our landscape? Can we manage
vulnerable areas of Britain’s coastline?
Development and Brazil – Why are some areas of the world poorer than others? What are the
features of Brazil? What is it like to live in Brazil?
Population growth and migration – Where do people live and why? What concerns does a growing
population create?
Extreme environments – What is it like in the deserts, rainforest and Antarctica? How do we adapt?
Changing my world – what are the causes and effects of climate change? How can our energy
consumption be more sustainable?
Tourism – The growth and impact of the industry and a fieldwork experience to Skegness or
Cleethorpes.
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
Extended projects are offered to students on separate subjects such as cold environments
and geography of sport. In addition extension activities are set during Geography lessons.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
After each of the above topics students will complete an assessment which is marked to a
national curriculum level and an appropriate target is set.
These assessments vary from formal questions with an examination style format. To
designing and annotating animals that can live in extreme environments. In addition to
these, every 3 weeks a piece of classwork will be set which will be awarded a NC level.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Assessments will take place after every module.
The fieldtrip to Skegness or Cleethorpes is in June 2013
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Monitoring of student planners and exercise books to support completion of homework and
classwork.
Encouraging students to keep up to date with current affairs by watching or reading the
news.
Useful websites and resources
BBC Learning
Enchanted learning
History
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Britain 1500-1750 (Everyday life, Tudor Monarchs)
Black People of America (Slavery, Abolition, Civil Rights)
Modern World (WW1, WW2, Holocaust)
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
Some extended writing (e.g. short stories, diaries) some research, some completion of
assessments (e.g. essay on abolition of slavery, was Henry a good king)
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
At least one main assessment each term will be levelled. Students are also assessed on
their verbal contribution in lessons and their written work in class and for home learning.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
N/A
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Please take the time to look at the student’s books and take the opportunity to discuss
what they have been covering in class. Please check homework for quantity and quality.
Useful websites and resources
www.schoolhistory.co.uk
Religious Education
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Discrimination
Inspirational people
Buddhism
Suffering
GCSE conflict
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
Research tasks
Exam questions
Project work
Creative work
Extended homework projects for GCSE topic
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
1 main assessment per module with Assessment for Learning tasks throughout
Exam question
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
November
March
June
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Watching the news
Reading newspapers
Keeping up to date with current affairs
Discussing contemporary and ethical issues with your child
Useful websites and resources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/
http://www.revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/re/
French
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Family and home life; Free time activities; Holidays; Education and Future Plans; Healthy
Lifestyles
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
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1 learning homework per week (students are given vocabulary booklets and are set
around 10 words per week to learn. Students must know the meanings and spellings
of words).
Reading worksheets
Cultural research homework
Pieces of writing to complete with aid of vocabulary booklet
Speaking tests to memorise
Redrafting written work
Using websites to help learn vocabulary / practise skills.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
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Weekly vocabulary tests
Ongoing assessment in class of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills
Half-termly writing assessments
Exams at Christmas and in summer
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
December – winter exam in all four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, writing)
June / July – summer exam in all four skill areas
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
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Take a positive and active interest in their homework.
Parents can help students revise for vocabulary tests by using the ‘look, cover, say,
write, check’ method often used at primary school.
Parents are welcome to use the vocabulary booklet to test students on key vocabulary.
Encourage your child to find examples of language in real life e.g. signs, food,
packages, shampoo bottles
Libraries may have books in the language your child is learning
Encourage your child to use the phrases / words they have learnt in their everyday
lives.
Help your child to find a pen pal abroad who will write to your child in both their own
language and English. They can email, write letters and send pictures or postcards.
The internet has many activity sheets, websites and games available in different
languages for children.
Encourage them to attend our Languages Club run by our Language Leaders.
Useful websites and resources
www.linguascope.com (see class teacher for username and password)
German
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Introducing Myself; Education; My family and friends
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
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1 learning homework per fortnight (students are given vocabulary booklets and are set
around 10 words per fortnight to learn. Students must know the meanings and spellings of
words).
Reading worksheets
Cultural research homework
Pieces of writing to complete with aid of vocabulary booklet
Speaking tests to memorise
Redrafting written work
Using websites to help learn vocabulary / practise skills.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
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1 learning homework per fortnight (students are given vocabulary booklets and are set
around 10 words per week to learn. Students must know the meanings and spellings of
words).
Reading worksheets
Cultural research homework
Pieces of writing to complete with aid of vocabulary booklet
Speaking tests to memorise
Redrafting written work
Using websites to help learn vocabulary/practise skills.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
December – winter exam in all four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, writing)
June/July – summer exam in all four skill areas
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent approach
to learning
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Take a positive and active interest in their homework.
Parents can help students revise for vocabulary tests by using the ‘look, cover, say, write,
check’ method often used at primary school.
Parents are welcome to use the vocabulary booklet to test students on key vocabulary.
Encourage your child to find examples of language in real life e.g. signs, food, packages,
shampoo bottles
Libraries may have books in the language your child is learning
Encourage your child to use the phrases/words they have learnt in their everyday lives.
Help your child to find a pen pal abroad who will write to your child in both their own
language and English. They can email, write letters and send pictures or postcards.
The internet has many activity sheets, websites and games available in different languages
for children.
Encourage them to attend our Languages Club run by our Language Leaders.
Useful websites and resources
www.linguascope.com (see class teacher for username and password).
Spanish
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Introducing Myself; Education; Family and friends; House and daily routine; Free time;
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
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1 learning homework per fortnight (students are given vocabulary booklets and are set
around 10 words per fortnight to learn. Students must know the meanings and spellings
of words).
Reading worksheets
Cultural research homework
Pieces of writing to complete with aid of vocabulary booklet
Speaking tests to memorise
Redrafting written work
Using websites to help learn vocabulary / practise skills.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
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Fortnightly vocabulary tests
Ongoing assessment in class of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills
Half-termly writing assessments
Exams at Christmas and in summer
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
December – winter exam in all four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, writing)
June/July – summer exam in all four skill areas
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
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Take a positive and active interest in their homework.
Parents can help students revise for vocabulary tests by using the ‘look, cover, say,
write, check’ method often used at primary school.
Parents are welcome to use the vocabulary booklet to test students on key vocabulary.
Encourage your child to find examples of language in real life e.g. signs, food,
packages, shampoo bottles
Libraries may have books in the language your child is learning
Encourage your child to use the phrases / words they have learnt in their everyday
lives.
Help your child to find a pen pal abroad who will write to your child in both their own
language and English. They can email, write letters and send pictures or postcards.
The internet has many activity sheets, websites and games available in different
languages for children.
Encourage them to attend our Languages Club run by our Language Leaders.
Useful websites and resources
www.linguascope.com (see class teacher for username and password)
Design & Technology
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
In Year 8 students will be building on the skills and knowledge acquired throughout Year 7.
Students will be working with a range of materials, tools and equipment across the
following focus areas - catering, product design (specific focus on wood/metal working),
electronics and graphics. Students will be given the opportunity to develop their designing
and practical making skills across each of these focus areas through a range of mini
design projects.
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
There will be a variety of tasks set depending on the focus area and specific project.
Students will often be given a single piece of project work that takes 2-3 weeks to
complete to support their learning in each focus area. All homework activities are detailed
in an A5 booklet that students will be given at the start of the year.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
Students will be assessed on the following sub-skills in each of the projects that they
complete:
Wind chimes/Styrofoam modelling – Designing
Catering – Making
Product design electronics – Evaluating
Hospitality project – Planning
These grades will be used to determine an overall end of year assessment level for your
son/daughter.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Not applicable.
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Ensure that students check their planner in advance of the lesson and if they are unsure
what needs to be completed encourage them to seek out their teacher for more support.
Encourage students to be creative in their approach to problem solving and to take time to
complete all their work to the best of their ability. Check the DT homework booklet as this
has been designed to give students guidance on how to access each NC level when
completing their homework.
Students in year 8 also need to be considering their options choices – encourage your
son/daughter to be talking to their DT teachers about their options choices throughout the
options process.
Useful websites and resources
http://www.design-technology.info/home.htm
http://www.technologystudent.com/
http://www.designandtech.com/
Information Computer Technology
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
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Office Suite (Word processing, database development, spread sheets and presentations)
Desktop Publishing: redesign the packaging for the latest games or videos
Web design: create simple but effective web pages on a given topic
Programming: use Scratch to create their own interactive games
CAD: use Google ‘Sketch up’ to produce 3D images
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
There will be a combination of tasks set for students, some will be short activities that can be
completed within 30 minutes, others will be spread across a number of weeks. There will be
different types of activities for the students, including accessing the VLE for online materials.
There will also be some written work, some investigation tasks and some sketching for them to
complete.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
The materials produced during the module will be used for the assessment. The individual
assessments will be used to assist the teacher in forming an overall assessment level at the
end of the year.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Students will be supported and guided through each unit of work. The assessment at the end of
each module will have clear criteria attached to it and will have been shared with the students
during the module.
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent approach to
learning
Discuss the home learning activities issued through the VLE. It is encouraged that all students
are able to access their work from home in order to try and improve their marks. Encourage
them to use their ICT skills in other activities and for work set by other subjects.
Useful websites and resources
ICT folder on the school’s VLE. All of our resources are available from here
I Am Learning website (via the VLE - usernames and passwords are entered for them)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/subjects/information_technology.shtml
http://www.goodtyping.com/
http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/training/
http://www.youtube.com/user/SerifSoftware
http://info.scratch.mit.edu/Video_Tutorials
Art
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
These may vary between teachers but the main skills covered are:
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Objective/observational drawing exercises looking at the formal elements of line, tone,
texture and detail, colour and composition
Painting and painting techniques, Collage, Printmaking, 3D/Sculpture and Clay work
Within the projects we will look at different artists, art movements and art of different
cultures, such as:
Cubism – Looking at the work of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Juan Gris
African Masks and connections to Cubism
Aboriginal Art
Gustav Klimt
There will also be a project that will give students an insight into the GCSE course.
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
These will vary depending on the nature of the class work and the projects being covered.
Typical Art homework tasks take the form of observational drawing exercises,
imaginative/subjective drawing, collage, collecting facts about a particular artist, collecting
images to use in class, 3D sculpture eg making a small scale 3D sculpture out of
found/scrap materials.
Homework is generally set each week (with a week to complete it). On occasion, practical
homework may be set fortnightly with smaller research homework in between due to
sketch books being collected in for assessment. There may be some homework set with
extended deadlines, eg 3D work could have up to 3 weeks to complete it.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
Assessment is continual throughout the year. Homework tasks are assessed using levels
with praise and advice/targets given to help improve their independent learning. Class
work is regularly assessed, particularly project work. Some drawing exercises may
receive verbal or written advice but not all will be given levels.
During the year we have a formal assessment of a drawing test (approximately once a
term). These are assessed using a proforma that indicates areas of success and at least 2
areas for improvement. It also makes clear the level they have achieved and the target
level for the next drawing test. These targets will be entered into their planners to help the
pupils keep track of their own progress and the areas they need to work on.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Termly assessments.
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
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Encouraging your child to look carefully at the objects they are drawing (it sounds
obvious but many pupils will think they know what an object looks like and try to draw
from memory or only look at an object a couple of times)
If you have skills in drawing, by all means draw examples to help the child understand
how you have observed an object, then encourage them to have a go themselves.
Although tempting, avoid doing the homework for them.
If they are using the computer at home for research, encourage them to read the
information and select appropriate facts. It may be easier to print off some information
and go through it with them, highlighting areas of interest that can then be copied up.
Whenever time available, work together to look in reference books and encyclopaedias
at various art movements (the art department can help with lists of these) or on
websites or watch relevant programmes that are related to art and particularly art from
different cultures.
Visit galleries and local exhibitions wherever possible
Useful websites and resources
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www.artcyclopedia.com
www.google.com
www.wotartist.com
We run Art clubs after school that can help build confidence
We also have a photography club and a member of Retford Photographic Society
comes in to teach the workshops.
Drama
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Year 8 Drama aims to extend the knowledge of drama learnt in Year 7 beyond that of individual
performance skills and moves the focus onto effective presentation of Drama. Students will be
taught to look at their work from the audience’s perspective and learn techniques that a director
would use to engage the viewers. Topics include creating tension, the use of the performance
space, creating comedy and considering a target audience.
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
An Independent Home Learning Project will be set each term with a focus on research,
understanding of Drama and evaluation. Each project will contain a variety of tasks to complete
and will to need be submitted by a given deadline.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
In KS3 pupils are assessed under the following Criteria:
Creating Drama:
Performing Drama:
Evaluating Drama:
Working as an individual / Working in a group
Movement / Voice / Characterisation
Evaluating your own work / Evaluating the work of others
Students will be assessed on a regular basis in the classroom. This may be an informal selfassessment task in their Pupil Progress File, a peer assessment, or a formal teacher assessment
of the work.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
November 2012, January 2013, May 2013
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Encourage pupils to discuss drama after they have watched any (be it a movie, stage play, TV
show, or even a Soap Opera!)
Key Questions:
 What was effective about the drama/acting? Why was it effective?
 What was not effective? Why was it not effective? How could it have been improved?
 How did the director/actors create dramatic tension?
 How did the designers (sound, music, set, lighting, costume, special effects) help to create the
world of the drama?
Enable (if possible) students access to seeing live drama on the stage local amateur/touring
productions, regional productions (Sheffield and Nottingham have a fantastic range), national
productions/ West End Shows (mostly London based, but some tour to regional venues)
Useful websites and resources
http://www.majesticretford.com/ What’s on in Retford!
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Official site for the city's three theatres. Includes details of upcoming
events and facilities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/dance_drama/ Includes videos of young performers work, competitions,
games and more!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/drama/ Though aimed at older students, an excellent
resource that lists many useful drama techniques and approaches to creating drama.
Music
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Notation and Theory
Jazz & The Blues (Chord Sequences)
Gamelan Music & Latin Music (World Music)
Music for Adverts (Radio Jingles) & Film/ Programme Music (Media & ICT)
Western Classical Traditions
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
Online Music Resource page – VLE access
The history of the Blues/Slave Trade/American influences
World Music research information
What is Media? Listening to Jingles
Film – listening to and comparing film music
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
Group/pair/individual assessments in performing, composing and listening tasks/activities.
Main assessments are one per ½ term but occasional other informal assessment.
Homeworks also assessed according to school homework guidelines.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
End of ½ termly units
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Encourage your child to listen to a variety of musical styles and genres on radio, cd, mp3,
t.v.
Explore music in the internet: youtube, grooveshark, itunes
Access the Music Online Resource page on the VLE
Useful websites and resources
www.elizabethan.notts.sch.uk/ vle/area/music/ks3/online music resource page
www.grooveshark.com
www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Audacity (free download)
Physical Education
Breakdown of topics to be covered this year
Rugby, Gymnastics, Fitness, Team Building and Leadership, Hockey, Netball, Basketball,
Badminton, Rounders/Softball, Tennis and Athletics,
Details of the types of Home Learning tasks to be set
The PE department does not set traditional homework tasks. We encourage students to
participate in a wide range of extra curricular clubs and activities. We also ask students to
follow sporting events through different types of media coverage.
Summary of how students will be assessed this year
Students are assessed at the end of every activity which occurs every half term.
Key dates for assessment and/or examinations
Assessments occur at the end of each half term.
Tips for parents to support learning at home and encourage an independent
approach to learning
Encourage your child to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle outside of school hours. We
therefore recommend that students undertake the recommended 30 minutes of exercise
every day.
Useful websites and resources
www.bbc.co.uk/sport